MEMPHIS, Tenn. — For a second straight game in the NCAA Tournament, Clemson will play a team that has dynamic guard play.

The Tigers handled New Mexico in the first game, limiting their best shooters all afternoon. The Lobos’ top three shooters—Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn, Jr., and Donovan Dent—went a combined 8-for-33 overall from the field and 2-for-14 from behind the arc.

Clemson (22-11) held the Lobos to a season low 56 points. Their 29.7 percent shooting percentage was also a season low, as was there 3-for-23 (13 percent) effort from behind the arc. New Mexico’s 13 percent shooting from deep is a Clemson record in an NCAA Tournament game, while their 29.7 percent overall field goal defense is the second best mark all-time.

But No. 3 Baylor is going to be a different beast on Sunday. The Bears made 16 of 30 three-pointers in their first round West Regional win over Colgate at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.

“It’s certainly better to be playing them after a game where you have a lot of positive thoughts than it is not playing well on that end of the floor and then trying to deal with it,” Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said.

The Bears (24-10) like to use a lot of mis-direction to get open looks. They are led by guards Ja’Kobe Walter (14.4 pts/game) and guard RayJ Dennis (13.2 pts and 6.9 assists/game).

Brownell said having such a quick turnaround does not make it any easier.

“We had several days to practice for New Mexico, plenty of time to get our minds in a good place, get used to what they do, practice at full speed,” he said. “Today you really can’t do that as much. And that’s what’s different about being in the tournament and not being in conference play.

“In conference play, we all know each other so well that when you get to the end of the season that’s probably not as important. This time of year it’s more challenging, and it is much more mental than it is physical because you’re not going to be able to get out there and bang with your guys as much as you would like in a normal, maybe two-day prep.”

The Tigers played just one game this year on a days rest, a 68-66 win over Davidson way back on December 12, which came less than 48 hours after a 77-76 win over UAB. Clemson was 8-3 in games on two days rest.

“I think it’s just coming out again with the same competitive spirit, competitive fight,” Clemson guard Case Hunter said. “Making sure that as guards we’re getting in with ball screens and making sure we have hot hands and just limiting their threes. Just making things hard for them. And we’ll be successful.”

Brownell is hoping the success and confidence the Tigers had on the defensive end against New Mexico will carry over into the Baylor game because he knows they are going to need that kind of effort to get past the Bears.

“It’s good that we’ve had some recent practices where we’ve been successful and been able to practice and continue to build good habits,” he said. “But Baylor is a different animal. They present some unique problems because of their shooting and so many of their guys that can shoot, and the athleticism of their center. I mean, that guy, you throw it anywhere near the basket he’s dunking. It he gets behind it, his athleticism, his speed. He’s a much better high post driver than you think.”

That guy is center Yves Missi, who is going to present PJ Hall, Ian Schieffelin and RJ Godfrey some problems in the paint. The key for the Tigers, they can’t get in foul trouble.

All three players spent a good part of Friday’s win over New Mexico on the bench with three fouls.

“We talk all the time that when you’re a guy playing the center position at this level, everybody probably starts the game with two fouls,” Brownell said. “If you don’t get two fouls, you’re probably not playing very hard — protecting your basket, rebounding, whatever it is. And then there’s going to be some other things that can happen to cause you to foul.

“So it’s the silly fouls, it’s the illegal screens, it’s the slaps. It’s things that you can control staying down and not walling up, leaving your feet that (PJ) has got to be a little bit more disciplined on sometimes.”

Missi is averaging 11.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

 –photo by Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY

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